SDSU DEFENSE STEPS UP WHEN IT MATTERS MOST

Aztecs’ game at Air Force still in question

Air Force traveled to Annapolis, Md., this weekend using private funds and lost 28-10 to Navy. But with the federal government still partially shut down, the rest of Air Force’s 2013 football slate is a question mark.

The Falcons are scheduled to host San Diego State in Colorado Springs on Thursday.

Aztecs coach Rocky Long said Friday night after a win over Nevada that he was confident the game would be played because the Aztecs are making the trip to Air Force and the Falcons would not need to use government funds to travel.

But according to a news release that was posted on Air Force’s website on Friday, “The Air Force Academy football team will play against Navy in Annapolis, Md., Saturday, but unless the situation changes, all sporting events, both home and away, are postponed until further notice. This includes club/intramural sports.”

A Denver Post report suggests that if the Falcons aren’t allowed to play Thursday against SDSU, the easy solution would be to move the game back a week to Oct. 19 — a mutual bye week for the Aztecs and Falcons.

The Falcons will practice this week with Thursday’s game in mind, the Post reported.

The San Diego State defense came up with two momentum-changing turnovers in the third quarter of Friday night’s 51-44 overtime win over Nevada that resulted in Aztecs touchdowns.

But quarterback Cody Fajardo and the Wolf Pack offense finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to get back into the game.

“You’ve got to give them credit because they did a great job coming back,” Aztecs coach Rocky Long said. “Their quarterback, I thought we had him sacked four or five times, and he outran the contain guy and got yardage with his feet or found a guy that was open and threw it.

“The quarterback did a great job of getting out of trouble and making plays, especially in the fourth quarter.”

Long said the defense did a good job pressuring Fajardo, even though they had just one sack.

“We didn’t hit him very much, but we were in his face a lot, so he wasn’t as comfortable as he normally is,” Long said. “But he still threw for a whole bunch of yards and he threw touchdown passes and had a real high percentage completion rate.”

Fajardo completed 32 of 51 for 387 yards and two touchdowns. For the second straight week, the Wolf Pack (3-3, 2-1 Mountain West) had two receivers log more than 100 yards each — Brandon Wimberly (121 yards, one TD) and Richy Turner (111 yards, one TD).

Fajardo threw for 167 yards in the fourth quarter alone.

Nevada’s 564 offensive yards are the most any opponent has had against SDSU all year, but the Aztecs (2-3, 1-0) came up with big defensive plays when they needed them most.

“It’s crazy how we don’t stop (Fajardo) at all in the fourth and then we go out and we stop them in overtime,” Aztecs safety Nat Berhe said. “I think it tells a lot about our defense. I’m just so proud of them and what they’ve done.

“A lot of people (were) saying the defense isn’t as good as last year and stuff like that. So for us to come out and play a good Nevada team and get the win — kudos to those guys.”

Aside from the fourth-quarter meltdown, SDSU played fierce defense for most of the game.

The Aztecs missed the injured Jake Fely at middle linebacker, but Josh Gavert was solid in fill-in duty, and outside linebacker Derek Largent finally looked like his old pre-knee-sprain self.

Largent had the Aztecs’ only sack, forcing a fumble on the play that Gavert scooped up for a for a 42-yard return in the third quarter.

Gavert led the team with 10 tackles, while Largent was second with nine. He also led SDSU with 2.5 tackles for loss.

The often-criticized cornerbacks did well, too.

Damontae Kazee forced the second fumble with a huge hit on Fajardo, and he almost had an interception in the fourth quarter, right after the Aztecs had jumped ahead 44-23.

Kazee plucked the ball out of the air, but then dropped it.

Long termed it a “gimme” interception and said, “If we catch that interception, the game is over.”

J.J. Whittaker had a career-high four pass breakups, including one on third-and-11 in overtime that helped seal the win for SDSU.

“I thought he played really well,” Long said.

SDSU now prepares for Air Force’s triple-option offense on a short week. The Falcons lost 28-10 to Navy on Saturday to extend their losing streak to five.

Even in the defeat, Air Force had 231 rushing yards and will be the biggest rushing threat the Aztecs have faced since playing Ohio State on Sept. 7.